The Village of Utica Planning Commission will have their meeting tonight at 5:30 p.m. Legacy Solar would like to install a ground-mounted Solar Energy System on residential property and the first step is getting the Commission’s approval. Jason Harmon, the Owner of Legacy Solar, says the new solar panels would be an alternative source of energy to a private residence at 3213 E. 9th Road, Utica. That location is zoned R-1 which means solar cells are allowed but require a special use permit. Following the Planning Commission Meeting, the Board of Trustees will have a Special Board Meeting, tentatively at 6 p.m. They’ll discuss and take possible action on the Annual Renewal of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois Employee Health Insurance Policy for 2024 for $ 5,064.00 a month.
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It’s that time of year again when admiring the changing leaves becomes the task of vacuuming them up. The City of Ottawa is looking for workers to help with the City’s annual leaf-vac program starting November 1st. All you need is to have passed your 17th birthday and show your photo ID and Social Security Card. You’ll be on duty weekdays from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for about the whole month of November. It’s 18 dollars an hour if you’re over 21 and minimum wage for those over 17. You can find an application at City Hall or the Public Work Building on Jackson. Just be sure to get those in by Thursday, November 1st.
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Ottawa Firefighters were busy between 11:00 and Noon on Wednesday, first answering a call to 906 Canal just after 11:00 about a CO detector alarm going off. It was determined to be a phone alarm. Then, just before 11:20, the fire department went to 711 West Jefferson for an odor investigation – a smell of burning plastic or fish. An investigation found no problems. Finally, at 11:30, an Ottawa fire truck was dispatched to 1520 West Norris Drive for a report of heavy black smoke coming from Cimco. Employees advised firefighters they were removing a diesel tank from some other equipment for scrap metal and it caught on fire. Staff had smothered the fire out with loose soil.
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The Illinois Department of Natural Resource is unveiling the locations where deer can be tested for chronic wasting disease during the 2023-2024 hunting season. CWD is a deadly disease of the central nervous system in deer and elk. Hunters can visit participating vendors, including taxidermists and meat processors, or drop deer heads at self-serve drop-off sites. A list of locations is available online. IDNR is also monitoring for any outbreaks of the bird flu. This will take place during the fall bird migration. Members of the public are encouraged to report large concentrations of 20 or more deceased birds found in one location. Reports can be made to the local IDNR district wildlife biologist.
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Bond is denied for a former NFL player charged in the death of his mother last month in suburban Maywood. Sergio Brown appeared in court yesterday on first-degree murder charges. Prosecutors say Brown was the last person seen with his mother before her body was found by neighbors on September 16th near a creek behind her Maywood home. Investigators found blood on the patio of the home, which matches Brown’s DNA. Prosecutors say he planned a trip to Colombia following the murder. He was arrested earlier this month while reentering the United States from Mexico.
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The National Transportation Safety Board is revealing its initial report of the deadly ammonia tanker crash last month in Effingham County. The multi-vehicle crash happened September 29th on U.S. Highway 40 near the town of Teutopolis. The NTSB found that the crash was caused by a car trying to pass the truck in a no-passing zone, right as another car was driving in the opposite direction. The tanker hit the tow ring of a utility trailer, which tore a hole into the tanker and caused thousands of gallons of ammonia to leak out. That resulted in the deaths of five people.
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A 29-year-old Peru man faces charges of disobeying a stop sign and improper lane usage after Peru Police investigated a single-vehicle crash with minor injuries at Ben Samek Road and Illinois 251 just after midnight Saturday. Hernan U. Luna has a notice to appear in court.
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The Illinois High School Association is denying an emergency appeal from Lemont High School after its girl’s volleyball team was disqualified from the state playoffs. The decision was made to disqualify the team after it was discovered that Lemont had played one too many regular-season matches. The school’s Athletic Director released a statement saying the players are paying for his mistake, calling the situation an “inadvertent scheduling oversight.” The school offered other options as a punishment, but the IHSA remained firm on its ruling.
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WEATHER:
Thursday
Showers, mainly after noon. High near 70. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between a tenth and a quarter of an inch possible.
Thursday Night
Showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm before 10 pm, then showers likely between 10 pm and 1 am. Mostly cloudy, with a low of around 63. South southwest wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. The chance of precipitation is 60%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.
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OBITUARIES:
Raymond Edward Bailey of Naplate passed away at OSF St. Elizabeth Medical Center on Monday, October 23rd. Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 28th at the Mueller Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Oakwood Memorial Park, in Ottawa, IL. Visitation will be from 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, at the funeral home.
Doris Elvira Thomas, 92, of Marseilles, passed away Wednesday, the 25th, at The Pavilion of Ottawa. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Saturday, October 28, at Seals-Campbell Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 1 p.m. at the funeral home, burial will be in Riverview Cemetery in Marseilles.
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HIGH SCHOOL LOCAL SPORTS:
Football
Class 1A – 9 Marquette (7-2) at No. 8 Forreston (7-2)
When: 7 p.m. Friday – Join Bryer Lehr on the call and Tony B back in the WCMY studios.
Girls volleyball
Earlville 2, Hinckley-Big Rock 0: At the Class 1A Earlville Regional, the host Red Raiders won their Wednesday evening semifinal. Earlville advances to today’s 6 p.m. championship match, where the Red Raiders will face top-seeded Newark.
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Newark 2, Somonauk 0: At the Class 1A Earlville Regional, the top-seeded Norsemen (32-4) rolled past the Bobcats and into Thursday’s 6 p.m. championship match against the host Red Raiders.
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Marquette 2, Grant Park 0: At the Class 1A Gardner-South Wilmington Regional, the top-seeded Crusaders punched their ticket to today’s 6 p.m. title match with a convincing victory. Marquette (29-6) will play host Gardner-South Wilmington.
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Ottawa defeated Pontiac in the Class 3A Regional semifinal game on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Pops Dale Gymnasium. The Lady Pirates will play Streator on Thursday at 6 p.m. for the Regional title.
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Streator defeated Sterling in the Class 3A Regional volleyball semifinal game on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Pops Dale Gymnasium. Streator will play Ottawa at 6 p.m. on Thursday for the Regional title.
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PRO SPORTS:
(Chicago, IL) — The Bulls are off to a rough start following a 124-104 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at United Center in their season opener yesterday. The Bulls had a two-point lead after the first quarter, but they faded down the stretch. Chicago was outscored by 14 points in the second half. DeMar DeRozan poured in a team-high 20 points in the losing effort. The 0-and-1 Bulls host the Raptors tomorrow night.
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>>Five Players Miss Bears Practice
(Lake Forest, IL) — The injuries keep piling up for the Bears. Five players missed the first practice of the week with injuries yesterday. Quarterback Justin Fields, safety Jaquan Brisker, defensive back Terell Smith, and offensive linemen Darnell Wright and Nate Davis were all missing from the field yesterday. Additionally, three other players were limited participants, including safety Eddie Jackson. Running back Roschon Johnson and Khalid Kareem were both listed as full participants. The Bears visit the Chargers on Sunday.
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>>Blackhawks Prepare For Golden Knights
(Chicago, IL) — The Blackhawks are setting off for a two-game road trip. The Hawks will take on the defending champion Vegas Golden Knights for the second time in six days tomorrow night. Chicago is on a three-game losing streak following a 3-0 loss to Boston on Tuesday. The Blackhawks lost to Vegas at home 5-3 this past Saturday. The Hawks wrap up the road trip with a game against the Coyotes on Monday.